Confessions of a Shopaholic

Becky Bloomwood. Me. Becky Bloomwood. Me.

See, there is no difference between the two of us at all.

I just caught the movie with the Cuz, the person who got me started on this whole Shopaholic craze five years ago. I really enjoyed it – I thought Isla Fisher as Miss Bloomwood was brilliant and hilarious. Hugh Dancy wasn’t exactly what I imagined Luke Brandon to be (my mind was swinging more towards Luke Wilson or Matthew Macfadyen) but I thought he wasn’t too bad. I love, LOVE that crisp British accent. There is something seriously sexy about the way Englishmen speak. Anyhow, both of us preferred the books to the movie but it was fun fluff nonetheless.

The funny thing was, we both entered the theatre with large shopping bags – me with a pair of heels and a hairdryer (free! thanks to vouchers) and her with a pair of heels and a bag. We had both decided to pop into Pedder Red separately and emerged with shoes.

Which is why I say I completely identify with Becky. Shopping makes me happy, it makes me feel that the nonsense that I had to put up with for the day is worth it because I get to buy the most amazing pair of shoes. My mind is working furiously to pair this wondrous design with the clothes in my wardrobe and I am thinking of how it would make me feel: breezy, quirky and girly. Becky is the girl with the green scarf, I am now that girl with retro shoes.

The little girl whose mother dressed her in sturdy brown shoes was me. And the little girl who, despite the good-hearted practicalities of her mother, grew up to love all things fashion is definitely me. I’m not going to be buried under a whole bunch of credit card bills, of course, and I am as happy throwing groceries into my shopping trolley as I am twirling in front of the mirror in a new dress.

But at the end of the day, buying something that I like and which fits me makes my heart pound with joy. Like this pair of Pedder Red platform heels, for instance:

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Just like Becky, the shoes were speaking to me. Look at us, aren’t we gorgeous? they whispered. And we fit you to a tee. We’ll make you look taller without inflicting unnecessary pain and your legs will look like Alicia Bitch Long Legs’. Perfect, no?

And so the card came out and the shoes went into a bag. The exchange was quick and painless and it ended with a cheery, “Thank you!”

Pedder Red sale. Run. Now.